Category: Military Action

Military Disguised Civilian Aircraft in Caribbean Drug Strike

The U.S. military deployed a disguised aircraft painted to resemble a civilian plane to conduct its first strike against an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean in September, according to officials briefed on the operation. The craft lacked visible weapons and military markings, tactics that retired Maj. Gen. Steven J. Lepper, former deputy judge advocate general for the U.S. Air Force, stated could constitute “perfidy”—a war crimes violation prohibiting combatants from impersonating civilians to deceive enemies. Lepper told The New York Times that an unidentifiable aircraft should not engage in combat operations.

The Pentagon defended the practice, stating aircraft undergo “rigorous procurement processes” to ensure compliance with domestic law, department policies, and international standards including laws of armed conflict. However, the September 2 strike that killed 11 people previously generated controversy over orders to eliminate two survivors clinging to wreckage—a “double-tap strike” that critics said violated war laws. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said a Navy admiral, not he directly, ordered the follow-up strike under his general authorization, though Hegseth stated he fully supported the decision.

The Trump administration’s anti-drug campaign has killed at least 123 people across 35 strikes in the Caribbean region, yet the military has not released extensive evidence identifying individuals on targeted boats or establishing their drug-trafficking connections. Legal scholars and critics argue these strikes constitute illegal extrajudicial killings against non-combatants outside conventional war zones, challenging the administration’s claim of valid “armed conflict” with non-state drug groups. Hegseth announced in December that the Pentagon would withhold unedited video of the September strike.

The campaign expanded significantly when U.S. forces entered Venezuela and captured leader Nicolas Maduro, whom the U.S. accuses of collaborating with drug organizations. Lawmakers stated they received no advance briefing on the Venezuela operation, and a bipartisan Senate group voted last week to block Trump from authorizing further military force in or against Venezuela without Congressional approval.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-caribbean-drug-boat-venezuela-b2899245.html)

Trump Imposes 25% Tariff on Iran Trading Nations

President Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on all nations conducting business with Iran, declaring the measure “final and conclusive” via Truth Social without providing legal justification or implementation details. The White House offered no official documentation of the policy, declined to clarify its legal authority, and did not respond to requests for comment regarding scope or enforcement mechanisms.

Iran’s major trading partners—including China, Turkey, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and India—would face the tariffs under Trump’s declaration. China’s embassy immediately rejected the measure, stating it opposes “indiscriminate imposition of tariffs” and warning it would take “all necessary measures” to protect its interests, noting that “tariff wars and trade wars have no winners.”

The announcement coincides with Iran’s largest anti-government demonstrations since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, driven by economic collapse and calls for systemic change. The U.S.-based rights group HRANA documented 599 deaths—510 protesters and 89 security personnel—since protests began on December 28, with Iran experiencing its gravest challenge to clerical rule in decades.

Trump has threatened military action against Iran while claiming to maintain diplomatic channels with opposition figures and Tehran’s leadership. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated diplomacy remains “the first option,” though Trump authorized U.S. military airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June and supported Israeli military strikes on Iran in 2025.

Trump’s tariff authority faces legal scrutiny as the U.S. Supreme Court considers whether to overturn broad sections of his existing tariffs. Iran exported goods to 147 trading partners in 2022 according to World Bank data, suggesting the tariff threat would disrupt extensive global commerce networks.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-iran-tariffs-china-trade-b2899268.html)

Donald Trump Orders Army Chiefs to Draw Up Plan to Invade NATO Ally Greenland

President Trump has directed the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) to prepare an invasion plan for Greenland, according to sources cited by the Mail on Sunday. Political adviser Stephen Miller and other administration hawks have accelerated this effort following the operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, viewing the window of opportunity as closing before mid-term elections later in 2026.

Senior military officials, including the joint chiefs of staff, are resisting the directive on grounds that an invasion would be illegal and lack Congressional support. Military sources describe Trump’s demands as unrealistic, with one comparing the situation to “dealing with a five-year-old.” The generals have attempted deflection by proposing alternative military operations, such as intercepting Russian “ghost” ships or launching strikes on Iran.

British diplomats have war-gamed scenarios involving Trump using force or political coercion to sever Greenland’s ties to Denmark, including a “worst-case scenario” described as leading to “the destruction of NATO from the inside.” Diplomatic cables indicate that Trump could advance from escalatory demands to a “compromise scenario” in which Denmark grants full military access to Greenland and denies it to Russia and China, with a NATO summit in July identified as potential timing for such a deal.

Trump previously declared he would acquire Greenland “easy way” or “hard way” regardless of local consent or Danish sovereignty. The administration has also discussed direct cash payments to Greenland’s 57,000 residents, ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per person, as a strategy to encourage secession from Denmark.

Diplomatic sources suspect that dismantling NATO may be Trump’s actual objective, with one cable stating: “If Trump wants to end NATO, this might be the most convenient way to do it.” European officials fear Trump will act before the summer mid-term window closes, making early 2026 the likely timeframe for escalatory moves. The UK’s alignment with European allies or breakaway support for Trump’s approach will be critical to the outcome.

(Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15452323/Donald-Trump-orders-army-chiefs-plan-invade-Greenland-President.html)

US carries out strikes in Syria as part of ongoing retaliation against ISIS | CNN Politics

The US military launched extensive strikes against ISIS positions in Syria on January 10, 2026, as part of “Operation Hawkeye Strike,” an ongoing retaliatory campaign. US Central Command reported that forces fired over 90 precision munitions targeting more than 35 locations using more than two dozen aircraft at approximately 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

Operation Hawkeye Strike began on December 19, 2025, in response to an ISIS attack in Palmyra, Syria that occurred on December 13, 2025, killing two US soldiers and one civilian interpreter. The soldiers were identified as Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, Iowa, both members of the Iowa National Guard. Three additional Iowa National Guard members were wounded in the attack.

The Iowa National Guard deployed approximately 1,800 troops to the Middle East earlier in 2025 as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the US mission to combat ISIS. US Central Command stated in its release: “Our message remains strong: if you harm our warfighters, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world, no matter how hard you try to evade justice.”

Hundreds of American troops remain stationed in Syria supporting the longstanding US counterterrorism mission. The goal of Operation Hawkeye is to deliver significant damage to ISIS remnants in Syria and diminish their capacity to threaten US forces in the region.

(Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/10/politics/syria-strike-retaliatory-isis)

US ‘discussing a range of options’ to acquire Greenland, White House says

The White House confirmed on Tuesday that President Trump’s administration is “discussing a range of options” to acquire Greenland, with military intervention explicitly stated as a potential tool. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt declared that acquiring Greenland constitutes a “national security priority” and that “utilizing the U.S. Military is always an option at the Commander in Chief’s disposal,” according to her statement to CNN.

Trump has escalated his focus on Greenland in recent days, prompting European leaders to issue a statement of support for Denmark, the NATO ally that holds sovereignty over the Arctic territory. Senior White House aide Stephen Miller reinforced the administration’s intent by telling CNN’s Jake Tapper on Monday that no nation would militarily oppose U.S. acquisition of Greenland, framing the prospect as inevitable.

The White House’s explicit invocation of military options to seize Danish territory represents an unprecedented assertion of force to acquire a foreign nation’s sovereign land. Denmark has already demanded U.S. answers over alleged Trump operations in Greenland, and this statement escalates tensions with a core NATO ally.

Trump’s pursuit of Greenland abandons established international law and diplomatic norms governing territorial acquisition, reversing decades of Arctic policy based on cooperation rather than coercion. The military already dismissed a base commander in Greenland for criticizing Vice President Vance’s political agenda, signaling the administration’s intolerance for dissent within its ranks on this territorial ambition.

Trump’s prior Greenland video masked imperial ambitions and elite interests, and these statements confirm the administration will consider military force to achieve territorial expansion, fundamentally departing from U.S. commitments to international law and alliance partnerships.

(Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/06/politics/us-options-greenland-military)

U.S. launches military strikes on Venezuela, Trump says Maduro captured and flown out of the country

President Trump announced early Saturday that Delta Force operatives captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who were then flown out of the country following large-scale U.S. military strikes on Caracas and other locations. Trump confirmed the operation via Truth Social post and scheduled a press conference at Mar-a-Lago for 11 a.m. ET, stating U.S. law enforcement was involved without specifying which agencies. This operation follows Trump’s announcement of a “total and complete blockade” of Venezuelan oil tankers announced just weeks prior.

Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated Maduro would face criminal charges in the U.S., where he was indicted in 2020 on narco-terrorism allegations. Rubio reportedly told Lee that “no further action in Venezuela” was anticipated now that Maduro was in U.S. custody, and that the military operation was deployed to protect those executing the arrest warrant. The Trump administration has maintained a $50 million bounty for information leading to Maduro’s capture, doubled from $25 million last summer.

U.S. military strikes targeted major installations including Fuerte Tiuna military base, La Carlota airbase, signal antenna at El Volcán, and La Guaira Port on the Caribbean coast. The operation represents the culmination of Trump’s rapid military expansion across Latin America through recent security agreements signed with multiple nations. The FAA banned U.S. commercial aircraft from Venezuelan airspace due to ongoing military activity, effective through Sunday morning Caracas time.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez demanded proof of life and Maduro’s location on state television, while Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López announced military deployment across the country and declared a state of external emergency. The Venezuelan government called supporters to the streets to resist what it termed an “imperialist attack,” though the defense minister made no mention of Maduro’s reported capture.

Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona denounced the strikes as “illegal,” calling it the “second unjustified war in my lifetime,” while Republican Senator Mike Lee expressed constitutional concerns about military action absent a declaration of war or authorization for use of military force. Congressional measures to require approval for Venezuelan strikes have been voted down in recent months despite bipartisan pushback against the administration’s military buildup in the region.

(Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/venezuela-us-military-strikes-maduro-trump/)

Trump Doubles Down On Claim U.S. Attacked Inside Venezuela

President Donald Trump claimed on December 29 that the United States struck a facility inside Venezuela, stating during a conversation at Mar-a-Lago that “we hit all the boats and now we hit the area.” Trump declined to specify whether the U.S. military or CIA conducted the operation, saying only that it occurred “along the shore” and that the targeted area is “no longer around.” This assertion followed an earlier radio interview where Trump first mentioned knocking out a “big facility where the ships come from” two nights prior.

The White House, Pentagon, U.S. Southern Command, and CIA have provided no official confirmation or evidence corroborating Trump’s claim. Anonymous American officials told The New York Times that Trump was “referring to a drug facility in Venezuela” but offered no details. Videos circulated online suggesting an explosion and fire at a Primazol chemical plant near Lake Maracaibo matched Trump’s timeline, though the company rejected claims it was attacked. A local journalist cautioned against the connection, noting residents observed nothing unusual. Trump’s statement remains unverified by independent sources or Venezuelan authorities.

Trump’s announcement followed months of escalating military operations in the Caribbean, including a declared “total and complete blockade” of Venezuelan oil shipments and numerous strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels that have killed over 100 people. The U.S. military presence has expanded significantly, with satellite imagery documenting doubled deployments of MC-130J transport aircraft, CV-22B Osprey tilt-rotors, MQ-9 Reaper drones, and special operations forces staging at Puerto Rico airports. Personnel have been photographed obscuring fences to conceal military aircraft from public view.

The Trump administration has simultaneously expanded U.S. military presence across Latin America through security agreements, establishing troop deployment rights and operational access across multiple nations under the stated pretext of counter-narcotics efforts. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova condemned both the blockade and seizures of Venezuelan oil tankers, characterizing the policy as “neo-colonial” and warning of unpredictable consequences for the Western Hemisphere. The proximity of an amphibious ready group and special operations mothership in late December suggests preparations for operations beyond attacks on vessels.

Trump’s unsubstantiated claim of a Venezuelan strike contradicts the established pattern of official silence regarding covert military action, raising questions about the veracity of his assertion and the scope of undisclosed operations in the region. The absence of White House corroboration, military confirmation, or independent verification stands against Trump’s public statements, while escalating military deployments and infrastructure expansion indicate sustained preparations for expanded kinetic operations.

(Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-doubles-down-claim-u-204927819.html)

Trump says US launched strike on ISIS terrorists in Nigeria – ABC News

President Donald Trump announced on social media that the United States conducted military strikes against ISIS operatives in Nigeria on December 25, 2025, characterizing the action as a “powerful and deadly strike” targeting terrorists he claimed were “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.” Trump stated he had previously threatened the group with consequences if they did not cease violence, declaring “tonight, there was” retribution through what he called “numerous perfect strikes” executed by the Department of War.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth corroborated Trump’s announcement in a separate post, stating the Department of Defense had been “preparing for action” and confirming strikes were carried out. Hegseth indicated additional military operations would follow, writing “there will be ‘more to come,'” and thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation, concluding with “Merry Christmas!” This followed Trump’s November video threatening to enter Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” in response to violence against Christians.

Trump has a documented history of making false claims about ISIS operations. In previous engagements with Nigeria’s leadership, Trump refused to apologize for calling African nations “shithole countries” and expressed preference for white European immigrants, undermining his stated concern for Nigerian Christians.

As of the announcement, the specific outcome of the strikes and exact targets remain unconfirmed. ABC News requested additional details from the White House, but no clarification on operational success or casualty figures has been provided. The military action was announced on Christmas Day without prior public disclosure of imminent operations.

This military action represents Trump’s use of military force in a sovereign nation without clear public justification or transparency regarding tactical objectives, civilian impact assessment, or coordination with international partners beyond Nigeria itself.

(Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-us-launched-strike-isis-terrorists-nigeria/story?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dhfacebook&utm_content=app.dashsocial.com/abcnews/library/media/624189102&id=128697246&fbclid=IwVERFWAO6sMhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeIri2ltSpiW2ijbI5_3BKXGc1ILofaQIHuOz0O216QjVACgiInQkujGOTTCw_aem_rM5sZiWG7gjdVK3uNITopg)

‘Gunboat diplomacy on steroids’: US signs security deals across Latin America | US military

The Trump administration is rapidly expanding US military presence across Latin America and the Caribbean through security agreements signed with Paraguay, Ecuador, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, the Dominican Republic, and Panama over recent weeks. These deals authorize US troop deployments, airport access, radar installations, and armed operations under the stated pretext of a “war on drugs,” while simultaneously conducting a four-month military campaign against Venezuela that includes oil tanker blockades, vessel seizures, and airstrikes that have killed over 100 people across the Caribbean and Pacific.

Analysts characterize the strategy as establishing operational infrastructure for a potential larger offensive against Venezuela and potentially other nations including Colombia and Cuba. Jennifer Kavanagh, director of military analysis at Defense Priorities, stated that constructing a network of locations across the region would be necessary for sustaining any expanded military operation, and Jorge Heine, former Chilean ambassador and Boston University researcher, directly contradicted the drug-war rationale by noting that Paraguay and Venezuela are not major drug production or distribution centers, indicating the actions align with Trump’s recently released national security strategy document calling for expanded US military presence in the region.

The Trump administration has reframed the Monroe Doctrine as a “Trump Corollary” explicitly calling for military expansion in Latin America, reversing historical patterns of US restraint. Ecuador rejected foreign military bases in a referendum, yet the US secured temporary air force troop deployment anyway; Peru’s congress authorized armed US military and intelligence operations following White House pressure; and Trinidad and Tobago’s installation of US radar prompted Venezuela’s interior minister to threaten retaliation and the regime to terminate fossil gas supply agreements with the Caribbean nation.

John Walsh, director for drug policy at the Washington Office on Latin America, described the strategy as “gunboat diplomacy on steroids,” designed to reward compliant allies while threatening nations that resist Trump administration objectives. Venezuela’s dictator Nicolás Maduro issued an urgent letter to regional leaders warning that US escalation “threatens to destabilise the entire region,” yet his diplomatic isolation—having had almost no contact with other presidents following his disputed 2024 reelection—limits his ability to mobilize regional opposition, while Trump has explicitly threatened Colombia’s leftwing president Gustavo Petro as a potential next target.

The military buildup leverages existing US infrastructure including bases in Puerto Rico, Honduras, and Cuba, alongside surveillance hubs at airports in El Salvador, Aruba, and Curaçao. For nations refusing to align with the Trump administration, Walsh explained that the visible US military presence nearby functions as an implicit threat designed to ensure compliance with American interests.

(Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/23/us-trump-administration-signs-security-deals-across-latin-america)

Matt Gaetz Attends Pentagon Briefing

Former Congressman Matt Gaetz participated in a Pentagon press briefing, joining various far-right MAGA influencers including Laura Loomer and Jack Posobiec. Credentials for regular reporters were revoked when they refused to sign a pledge to report only on pre-approved materials from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

During the briefing, Gaetz directed questions to Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson, inquiring about the Department of Defense’s role in a post-Maduro Venezuela. Wilson responded that the department has contingency plans and emphasized the importance of their ongoing operations against narco-terrorists, stating each operation saves American lives.

Gaetz pressed further, asking whether the administration views anyone associated with the Venezuelan military or government as automatically a narco-terrorist. Wilson indicated that this determination lies with the President but clarified that targets confirmed as drug traffickers are considered narco-terrorists.

Gaetz, who currently hosts a show on One America News Network, has faced scrutiny for his extreme statements, including anti-Israel rhetoric. His show recently fired a staff member over an anti-Semitic video posted online.

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